Malayalam Movie Review DNA - Cast & Crew

Raai Laxmi or Lakshmi Rai is a famous South Indian actress and model. She was born on 5 May, 1989, in Bangalore, Karnataka. She did many ad-films before entering films. She worked as model for Fair & Lovely, Bru Coffee, Sarvana stores, etc., A director saw her talent and gave her a chance to act in a Tamil film. Hence, Raai Laxmi debuted with a Tamil film called Karka Kasadara. After the film she got many film chances and acted in numerous Tamil films. She acted in various genre movies like comedy, drama, and action, simultaneously. She played a comedy role in her next film, Kundakka Mandakka, and her other important films in Kollywood are Dharmapuri, and Nenjal Thodu. Her role as a lawyer in the movie, Dhaam Dhoom, directed by Jeeva, gained her critics appreciation. She won a Filmfare for the same film.

Seetha was born on 13th July’1964 in Saurashtra. Her father’s name is Mohan Babu. He is yester year’s Tamil actor. Her mother’s name is Chandravathi. She has two brothers named Dudhyanth and Pandu. Seetha fell in love with Tamil actor Parthiban and married him in 1990. They gave birth to two daughters and a son named Keerthana, Abhinava and Raakhi. Seetha took divorce from Parthiban in 2001 and married TV and film actor Satish in 2010.

Namitha Pramod, born to Pramod and Indu on 19th September 1996 in Thiruvananthapuram is a Malayalam actress who rose to fame through television. She started her acting career when she was in her 7th grade by appearing in the very popular fictional Christian Devotional teleserial  Velankanni Mathavu. She appeared as Mathavu in the serial and was accepted by the Malayalam television viewers. After that she played the role of goddess Devi in Amme Devi, portraying her character through her expressive eyes. She acted as Anjali in Ente Manasaputhri, a very popular serial in Asianet directed by Baiju Devaraj. She chose to play it safe as she did not overwork and put her education at stake. 

She entered the big screen through the movie Traffic, a trend setter movie which revolved aroud the theme of organ donation and heart transplant. She played the character Riya, the dying daughter of Rahman and Lena, which gave a lot for her to perform. Even though it was a short character role, her performance got noticed. Her first lead role, the Sathyan Anthikkad movie Puthiyatheerangal with a coastal lifestyle as the backdrop, brought her back to Malayalam movie industry as a promising heroin. She played the role of Thamara a fisherwoman opposite Nivin Pauly. Later she had a series of movies; in Sound Thoma with Dilip; a Mohiniyattam dancer in Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum; as a modern, city bred college student in Law point with Kunchako Boban. Her very recent movies are Villaliveeran with Dilip in which she plays the character of Namratha, Dilip’s love interest; a Konkani speaking girl Deepika opposite Dulquer Salman in Vikramadithyan, which is still running in the theaters. All of her movies are box office hits and she holds a position among the top 5 actresses of 2013. She appears to be a Promising and Lucky actress in the Malayalam movie industry after her back to back hits. Her movie Ormayundo Ee Mugham with Vineeth Sreenivasan, a romantic comedy musical entertainer, is scheduled for release on 14 November 2014. 

As every other new budding heroines in Malayalam, Namitha has made her debut in Tamil also. Her first Tamil movie is En Kadhal Pudhithu, directed by Maaris Kumar which she had done before becoming popular in Malayalam did not give her promising start. But she says that she has offers pouring in from the Tamil Industry, but she does not have dates for now.

She has won many awards like Amrita TV Film awards for New Face of the Year in 2013 for portraying Thamara, and Asianet Film award for Popular actress for her acting in Pullipulikalum Aatinkuttiyum.   Namitha is continuing her education along with acting. She joined for Bachelor’s degree in sociology at St Theresa’s college in 2014. She says that even though she could not attend classes regularly till now due to her busy schedule, she will not compromise with her studies. She has a younger sister Ankitha who is her very big fan and critic.

In her career spanning 8 years, Honey Rose is considered to be one of the good actresses of Malayalam cinema, but she had indeed come a long way to achieve this position. 

Honey Rose has mainly acted in Malayalam films, but had ventured in Tamil and Telugu films too. Born on 5th September 1991, Honey Rose, ventured into the Malayalam film industry during the year 2005. She worked in the film Boyy Friennd under the direction of Vinayan. Later, she did one film each in Telugu and Tamil namely Ee Varsham Sakshiga and Mudhal Kanave respectively. Honey Rose is best remembered for her role as Dhwani Nambiar in the film Trivandrum Lodge. Her performance was noticed in the film and she instantly climbed the ladder of success through the film. In fact, she even changed her name to Dhwani, but later she got back to her name Honey Rose. 

Honey was initially tensed to play the role of Dhwani in Trivandrum Lodge. She felt that the role was something against her character. Honey feels that women are given strong roles nowadays. Incidentally Honey aspired to become an actor in childhood, but when she was approached for her debut film, she was quite nervous as she had no experience in acting whatsoever. After finishing the first shot, she realized that, her place is cinema. 

Hailing from Thodupuzha, Honey Rose has worked in over 22 films. She changed her name to Soundarya when she acted in the Tamil movie Kaandharvan. Honey Rose is eagerly waiting for her break in Tamil cinema. 

Honey Rose admits that, her acting strength has evolved with movies. She signs her roles slowly and steadily while her colleagues may sign more projects. Honey states that, she wants people to keep her role in mind for years together. Also, she is not frightened by big actors’ presence. 

Even when Honey didn’t savor success, she didn’t give up. Honey once said that, she is keen on roles that would get her popularity. And now she is quite a popular star!

Roma Asrani is a Mollywood actress who was a model in her career before making her foray into movies. She also acted in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada language films. But she got maximum offers from Malayalam film industry only. Although she had made her debut with Telugu movie Mr. Errababu (2005), the actress got the offer from other regional languages too and made debut in a Tamil film with ‘Kathale En Kathale’(2006) and her first Kannada film was ‘Aramane’ (2007). Despite having signed different projects in various languages, she shot to fame with a Malayalam movie 'Notebook' which was a film that depicted the life of three students at a boarding school, and how they face up to challenges in their lives. The central plot of the movie was on three students Roma, Parvathy and Mariya Roy. The film won critical acclaim and even fared well in box office. Roma received a couple of awards for her performance in this film and even won new talent debut award from Kerala TV channels. Her next movie ‘Chocolate’ was a mega hit and she became a sensational female star in Mollywood. She became a teenage craze in viewer’s eyes with film ‘Chocolate’.

Hannah Reji Koshy is a young talented model and film actress. She prominently works in Malayalam language film. She was born in Ernakulam, Kerala. She completed her school education from Assisi Vidyaniketan. She did her graduation in Dental Health from Sharavathi College of Dental Studies, Karnataka. After completing her graduation, she started pursuing her professional career as Dentist.

Gowri Nandha was born on 3rd August 1989 in Ernakulam, Kerala, India. She is a professional Indian Actress. Gowri preferably works for the Tamil and Malayalam film industry. She stepped into the film industry at a young age, when she was 21 yrs. old in the year 2010, along with the movie Kanyakumari express, which was a Malayalam film, in which she enacted as Hanna.

Anjali ruler is an Indian role player who acts in Malayalam and Tamil movies. She was born in Thamarassery in the year 1995. She belongs to a robust Muslim background community. She has varied hobbies like doing comedy, dancing, and singing.

Sajna Khan is a Malayalam film actress born in Kerala, India. She is married to Firoz Khan. The couple has a son named Rowus. Her husband introduced her to the industry and helped her fulfill her dream of being an actor. Sajna made her debut with Sumangli Bhavah.

Bio coming soon...

Riyaz Khan is a Tamil and Malayalam film and television actor who has more than 100 films under his kitty and several TV serials under his name. Born on the 9th of September, 1972, Riyaz Khan first made his entry into acting through Malayalam movies, his first being 'Sukham Sukhakaram' directed by Balachandra Menon. He has not looked back since then and has acted in movies in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada with leading directors and actors. He has played supportive roles in many Tamil movies essaying powerful characters like an investigative policeman, bodybuilder, etc. 

Irshad is an Indian actor in Malayalam films. He hails from Kecheri, Thrissur, Kerala. Irshad was so passionate about movies that he left his job to look for a role in Malayalam movies.His family and friends in Thrissur has been his encouragement, according to the actor.

Irshad showed his face on screen in PG Viswambaran’s movie Parvathi Parinayam in 1995, but had a real debut in the role of college union chairman in director Sibi Malayil's campus movie Pranayavarnangal in 1998. He acted in PT Kunju Muhammad’s Garshom, which was an offbeat movie, in 1999 and this led to Irshad being casted in the lead roles in many parallel cinemas. He acted in movies of many acclaimed, award winning directors like T V Chandran, Priyanandanan, Pavithran etc. His  important parallel movies are Neythukaran (2001), Danny (2002), Paadam Onnu Oru Vilapam (2003), Paradesi (2007), Bhoomi Malayalam (2009) etc. His role in Padam Onnu Oru Vilaapam as cruel husband of protagonist Shahina, a 15 year old Muslim girl, gained him a lot of popularity. He has also done noted roles in Priyanandana’s Pulijanmam (2006) and Dr. Biju’s Veettilekkulla Vazhi (2011) and P.K Radhakrishnan’s Mukham Moodikal (2013).

Irshad has also done many supporting characters in mainstream movies, now and then, since Narasiham in 2000. Offlate, he has shifted his focus from parallel movies to mainstream movies. He did the lead role of Maruthapuram Vishwan, alcoholic husband of protagonist Sumangala played by Kavya Madhavan, in director Priyanandana’s mainstream movie Bhakthajanangalude Shradhakku. His recent noted roles are as villain character Chakka Maniyan in Lal Jose’s  Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum (2013), as  Sub Inspector in Drishyam and Issac in Memmories (2013). He has also acted in 6 movies in 2014. His roles were well received in hit movies like Sapthamasree Thaskara and Vikramadithyan. The second mainstream movie in which Irshad has done the lead role opposite Lakshmi Gopalaswami, Yathra Thudarunnu, is expected to hit the theaters by the end of 2014. 

Irshad has acted in many telefilms  like Veyil Thumbikal, Award winning Malayalam telefilm Directed by- Priyanandan. Irshad has done only few Malayalam serials. His character in serial Madhavam directed by Saji Sundaresan telecasted on Asianet during 2007-2008 gained attention. He is not very active in serial  in recent years since he is more concentrating on doing films.

Apart from films the actor is very much socially committed. He has contested and lost in a block Panchayath election in 2000. He is also part of many social movements in Trissur and other parts of Kerala, like the one demanding the ban of the use of endosulfan in the state. 

Irshad is the third son of his parents Abdu and Nafeesa Thrissur. His wife is  Ramseena and has a son, Arshiq.

Ameer Niyaz is an upcoming Malayalam actor who made his debut into the industry through the movie “Puthumukhangal” and he appeared in movies “Run Baby Run” and “Sevens” later on. He has also acted in a Kollywood movie and now he is preparing for a Tamil movie “Kaanagam” in which he will be playing a villain role. The movie “Puthumukhangal” is a Malayalam movie which got released in 2010 which features debutants in main roles. 

He was born in a small village in Kerala. He completed his secondary education in his birthplace and during his school education he used to be an active participant in Dramas and ballet completions. The local circles noticed his performances. 

He could manage his studies and his extracurricular activities well. Being an active participant in competitions, he never scored less in his academics. As a result, he came out with flying colors in his plus two and for his degree education. 

His another movie was “Sevens” which was directed by the hit maker “Joshy”. The movie had a rich young cast including Kunchako Boban, Asif Ali, Nivin Pauly and a few more. The movie was a box office hit, and his acting skills was noticed by the audience. He is currently focusing in Malayalam and Tamil movie Industry.

Ammanath Babu Chandran is popularly known as Idavela Babu.  He is a movie-serial artist, anchor, dubbing artist, event manager and a businessman from Kerala. Babu’s debut movie   Idavela was released in the year 1981. Babu was born at Irinjalakuda as the son of Mr. Raman and Mrs. Santa. Babu was deeply interested in dancing since his childhood and has won several prizes and scholarships. Babu is currently the Executive Committee Member of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (Amma). He has several important responsibilities like VP of Artistes of Cinema & TV Media Co-operative Society Ltd, Member of FEFKA, MACTA, SICADU, CONTACT, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, SIIFA, Television Chamber, etc.Co-operative Society Ltd, Member of FEFKA, MACTA, SICADU, CONTACT, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, SIIFA, Television Chamber, etc.

Babu’s contribution to the mini screen includes more than 200 serials and telefilms including Bharya, Stri, Muttathu Varkey Stories, Gokulam, Neeharam, Charulatha, Desadanakilikal, Ishtamaayi, Sparsam, Kayamkulam Kochunni, Malootty, O.Hendy Stories, Sri Guruvayur appan, Sri Krisna Lila, Velankani Matavu, etc. Babu has lent his voice to several actors. Babu has also made a mark as an anchor for TV programs and compeer for stage shows.

Babu was an integral part of hit movies like Idavela, Lion, Mazhavil Kutaram, Hitler, Pataalam, Naran, 20-20, etc. Babu has more than 100 films to his credit.

Kalabhavan Haneef is a movie- television star and a sought after mimicry artist. He started his career as a sales person and mimicry artist. Later, he bagged roles in serials and movies. Haneef is proud to have spent close to twenty five years in the entertainment industry. Haneef started his mimicry shows from his school days. He was closely associated with the Kalabhavan group which was the starting point for many super stars. Haneef has also followed the practice of Kalabhavan alumni by retaining the organization’s name to his screen name. Haneef has specialized in imitating actors Nedumudi Venu and Raghavan.

Haneef is extremely popular in India and abroad through his stage shows. He has portrayed smaller roles in Malayalam movies, but the television industry welcomed him with open hands. He played important roles in serials like Minnu Kettu, Nadhaswaram, etc. Haneef has also been a part of shows like Abi’s Corner, Comediyum Mimicsum Pinne Njanum, Manassiloru Mazhavillu, Tilana Tilana, etc. Minnu Kettu was a family drama which portrayed the story of a father, his daughters and their struggles.

Haneef’s first movie was Dupe Dupe 2001. He later acted in many movies like Drishyam, Vallatha Pahayan, Ring Master, Chapters, Sound Thoma, 101 Weddings, Godfather, and Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty. Haneef is married to Wahida, and they have two children.

Sudhir Sukumaran is a Malayalam actor, who has acted in more than 30 Malayalam films and serials. He is often mistaken for a North Indian. He was a model before being invited to act in the hit 2003 Dileep-starring comedy film CID Moosa. His role was that of a terrorist.

His next film was Vinu Anand’s 2007 film Heart Beats, starring opposite Biju Menon and Indrajith. Kanichukulangarayil CBI (2008), Moz and Cat (2009), Malayali (2010) and Yakshiyum Njanum (The She-devil and Me) were other films of his. 

Sukumaran is married and enjoys working out. He often posts photos of himself exercising on his Facebook profile. He often collaborates with fellow actor Dileep in movie projects.

His first film as the main character was in 2012’s Dracula. While he received praise for his physique and appearance, the film was a critical and financial failure. Critics described the film as “unintentionally hilarious”. Sukumaran brought further negative press by allegedly beating up his Dracula co-star Rajeshwari Nambiar on the road. She alleged that Sukumaran followed her car on a bike, dragged her out of the car and roughed her up. She alleged that he had made romantic advances towards her in the preceding days and that he was taking revenge for her scorning his advances. A case was filed at Kadavanthara police station in Kochi. Sukumaran, who was in Hyderabad for a film shoot at the time, was asked to return to Kochi.

His film Bhaiyya Bhaiyya with Kunchacko Boban and  Biju Menon was a success. He worked together with Dileep after 5 years in the Evan Maryadharaman, which is to be released later this year. Due to his facial features, he is often casted in North Indian roles in Malayalam films. After the apprehension of the infamous professional thief Devinder Singh (Bunty Chor), Sudhir Sukumaran was casted to play him in Bandi Bunty- A Story of a Thief, a Manoj Ram project.

Aju Varghese is an Indian film actor, born to Varghese PK and Celiene Susan in the year 1985. He has a younger sister named Anju. He was born in Thiruvalla city located in Kerala. Aju completed his schooling in Rajagiri High School and further continued his studies in Bhavan’s Vidyalaya located in Ernakulum.

When Babu Antony (real name Bob Anthony) holds up his report card it looks to be a very impressive one and more than his 175 plus movies in 6 different languages, what stand out are his other attributes in the nonfilm and academic domains. Apart from a degree in English Literature and a Masters in HRM, he was also captaining the University Volleyball and Athletic teams, justifying all of his six ft. Plus height and 185 lbs build and teaching martial arts as well in college days. It was Bharatan, one of the successful directors of that time who got him into films in 1986, launching him with “Chilampu” on an impressive career with several hits and critically acclaimed films, including some that got recognition in international forums. Being basically from Kerala his prime focus has obviously been Malyalam films, and he has an impressive record to boot. Out of the 31 movies chosen to showcase 75 years of Malayalam movies, two of Babu’s movies (“Vaishali” and “Sayahnam”) were also chosen alongside so many other big names in the industry. Coincidentally both the films had a mythological basis, the former being based on the Mahabharata, while the latter is in the Old Testament. He has had several hits to his name and that too in several languages, including action movies like “Chanda”; “Hathya” etc. and multi-lingual versions like “Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal” made in Hindi as well as 4 Southern languages. He had a brief respite from films in between, but soon made a comeback through the 2012 film “Grandmaster” featuring the famous Mohanlal as his co-star. However, in his own estimation it was “Aparahnam” which gave him maximum satisfaction. Here he portrays the role of a terrorist who is suffering from a dilemma about his purpose in life. Some of his later hits include the double version “Kanchana” in Tamil and Telugu, as well as “Ek Deewana Tha” in Hindi, amongst many others. And finally, he is also giving free rein to his versatility by taking up the direction of a Malayalam film entitled “Piano”.